Conference - World Bipolar Day 2024

This 'Hypersexual Behaviour' webinar explores some of the repercussions of this common symptom of bipolar, and ways for women to begin to let go of any unresolved self-blame 

Funded by Hypatia Foundation as part of our women and bipolar series
In collaboration with East Kent Rape Crisis Centre and the National Centre for Mental Health

Speakers: Dr Clare Dolman, Anne Chataigné, Professor Arianna Di Florio, Daisy Harvey and Zoe Bell

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Rotary Bipolar eClub hosted an exclusive conversation between ITV's Deputy Political Editor Anushka Jones and Bipolar UK ambassador, environmentalist and author of 'Birdgirl', Mya-Rose Craig.

They'll talk about supporting a close loved one with bipolar, and the benefits of birdwatching and spending time in nature. 

Guests: Anushka Asthana (Jones), Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl)

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During this 'Bipolar Research' webinar, our research team discusses their exciting work projects and partnerships, including with Cardiff and Michigan Universities.

Speakers: Dr Tania Gergel, Dr Talen Wright, Prof Jeremy Hall, Prof Melvin McInnis

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This year’s World Bipolar Day conference is hosted once again by Bipolar UK ambassador and TV presenter Leah Charles-King. 

Speaker and author Sara Schley chats to BBC broadcaster David Harper about the importance of getting the right diagnosis quickly, shining a spotlight on bipolar type 2, and how we can all challenge stigma and save lives. Both David and Sara have lived experience of bipolar.

Speakers: David Harper, Eve Mair, Joanna Dunbar-Webb, Leah Charles-King (host), Luyando Malawo, Nicky Chinn, Sara Schley, Simon Kitchen, Rosie Phillips

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Can Advance Choice Documents save bipolar lives? This panel discussion, hosted by Leah Charles-King, answers all your questions about Advance Choice Documents and explores the potential benefits of creating one…

Speakers: Leah Charles-King, Adam Deacon, Polly Wiseman, Professor Sally Marlow, Dr Sameer Jauhar

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Adam Deacon

Prof Jeremy Hall

Rosie Phillips

Anne Chataigné

Joanna Dunbar-Webb

Professor Sally Marlow

Anushka Asthana (Jones)

Leah Charles-King

Dr Sameer Jauhar

Prof Arianna Di Florio

Luyando Malawo

Sara Schley

Dr Clare Dolman

Prof Melvin McInnis

Simon Kitchen

Daisy Harvey

Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl)

Dr Talen Wright

David Harper

Nicky Chinn

Dr Tania Gergel

 Eve Mair

Polly Wiseman

Zoe Belle

Adam Deacon

Adam Deacon is a BAFTA award-winning actor, writer, director, producer and musician from Hackney, East London. At the age of 12 he began to act and trained at the Anna Scher Theatre. He has worked in television, film, theatre and radio throughout his 29 years in the business. 

Adam co-wrote, co-directed and played the lead role in 'Anuvahood', which was released in 2011 and won him the prestigious BAFTA Rising Star Award; with Time Out magazine labelling him as "The New Face of Youth Cinema". In 2015 things took a turn in his life when he experienced a breakdown and was diagnosed with bipolar. 

Thanks to a combination of the right medication, talking therapy, hard work and perseverance Adam has rebuilt his life and career, and in 2023 returned to film making with his action comedy movie 'Sumotherhood' which he co wrote, directed, produced and starred in. The film was made independently but later picked up by Paramount Pictures and went on to be a box office success.

Adam is committed to raising awareness around mental health and breaking the stigma surrounding bipolar. He has been an ambassador for Bipolar UK since 2020. 

Anne Chataigné

Anne Chataigné co-wrote the BFI Doc Society-funded short documentary film ‘Trust Me’, of which she is the protagonist. Blending animation and live-action recreations, she uses humour and compassion to reclaim the story of her bipolar diagnosis in her early 20s and uses the film to challenge everyday stigma and pave her journey towards self-acceptance.

Anne has lived in London for the last 13 years. When she is not making documentaries with her friends, she works as an urbanist, adapting the UK to flood risk.

Anushka Asthana (Jones)

Anushka Asthana is the Deputy Political Editor at ITV News and co-presenter of ITV’s flagship political programme, Peston. Previously she helped to launch and present the Guardian’s daily podcast, 'Today in Focus' and before that was the paper’s joint political editor. Anushka has also covered politics and policy, including health, for the Observer, Times and Sky News.

Anushka has a close family connection to bipolar. 

Professor Arianna Di Florio

Arianna Di Florio is a professor of psychiatry at Cardiff University and honorary consultant psychiatrist at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. She is currently leading the Reproductive Mental Health clinical research programme, which includes a second opinion clinic dedicated to reproductive mental health.

Arianna’s research focuses on severe psychiatric disorders in relation to reproductive life events, such as mensuration, perimenopause, and hormone therapy. Arianna’s research is currently recruiting through the National Centre for Mental Health.

Dr Clare Dolman

Clare Dolman is a journalist and researcher whose PhD at King’s College London focused on women with bipolar disorder’s decision-making regarding pregnancy and childbirth. She lectures on the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ training courses on perinatal mental health and service user perspectives.

Clare, who has a diagnosis of bipolar, is a trustee of the MMHA: Maternal Mental Health Alliance, the Global Alliance for Maternal Mental Health (GAMMH) and APP - Action on Postpartum Psychosis, as well as an ambassador for Bipolar UK. 

Daisy Harvey

Daisy is a final year PhD student based at the Spectrum Centre for Mental Health at Lancaster University.  Her research uses computational linguistic methods to look at how risk-taking behaviours are talked about by people living with a diagnosis of bipolar, with a specific interest in hypersexuality. 

David Harper

David is a presenter and journalist. He works for the BBC, ITV and LBC. He was diagnosed with bipolar over 10 years ago, and decided to go public about his diagnosis last year. 

Eve Mair

After a stint in advertising, Eve began working at Bipolar UK as a Senior Public Policy Officer in 2022. She was diagnosed with bipolar in 2017, when she was a student at university.    

Prof Jeremy Hall

Jeremy’s overarching interest is in the role of genetic and environmental risk factors in the development of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism and related personality disorders. In his work, he employs a translational approach to study how genetic and environmental factors enhance risk for mental illness. He is particularly interested in how identified genetic risk factors affect learning processes in the brain; abnormalities in which underlie the key symptoms seen in a range of mental health problems. In addition to his pre-clinical work, he also conducts clinical work and research in the fields of adult neurodevelopmental disorders and early psychosis.  

Joanna Dunbar-Webb

Joanna’s career began as a commercial solicitor. She is now a senior business operations specialist in the people and culture space, with international experience gained living and working in the UK, Australia, Egypt and France. 
 
Joanna is also a counsellor and instructor of yoga and meditation through her private holistic therapy practice. She devotes any free time available to supporting causes close to her heart relating to personal empowerment and development, equity, education, and optimisation of health and wellbeing.  
As a neurodivergent women living with bipolar, Joanna is an active champion and ambassador on accessibility, inclusion and diversity in all walks of life. 

Leah Charles-King

Leah Charles-King (sometimes known as, Leah CK) has contributed to over 35 years in mainstream media and the entertainment industry as a music artist, TV and radio presenter, TV property expert, and mental health advocate. She is also an accomplished Live Events Host and Public Speaker.  
 
In 2021 Leah joined the presenting team of the popular Channel 4 property programme ‘A Place in the Sun’ and has quickly become a fan favourite.  
 
Her music career began in the 1990’s as one third of the girlband ‘Kleshay’ signed to Sony Music, and enjoyed two UK chart singles as well as a successful arena tour as supporting act for Lionel Richie.  
 
In 2001 Leah moved from London to Birmingham for her first high profile on-screen role in television. She became the first (and only) black female continuity presenter on CITV (Children's ITV) in its 45 year history.  
 
Recognised and respected in the industry among her peers, Leah was a fan favourite hosting Jackpot247 casino on late night ITV, and also enjoyed a long working relationship with American TV network, BET (Black Entertainment Television) as a red carpet correspondent and celebrity interviewer across the USA, UK and the Caribbean.  
 
Leah was the first on-air talent to launch BET International across Europe and the UK.  
Leah’s TV credits also include: BBC, ITV, Channel 4, CITV, Disney Channel, Channel 5 and Sky.  
 
Known for her incredibly personable, engaging and witty style, Leah is an accomplished presenter who has racked up well over 100,000 hours of live, unscripted, non-autocued TV presenting experience, and has produced and presented programs transmitted in Europe, USA and Africa. 
 
In 2019, Leah spoke publicly for the first time of her secret battle with bipolar. She subsequently launched her own platform ‘Illuminate Mental Health’ to normalise the conversation in an attempt to help end stigma around mental illness. She continues to be featured on many podcasts and interviews openly discussing her mental health struggles.  
 
Leah filmed a report for BBC’s ‘The One Show’ called “Bipolar and Me” which was watched by over 8.8 million viewers.  
 
Leah is a proud ambassador for Bipolar UK. On World Bipolar Day in March 2023, Leah penned a free to download ebook entitled 'Live Well with Bipolar' and continues her role as a mental health advocate and campaigner.  
 
In October 2023 Leah launched the 'Bipolar Unfiltered' podcast series which can be found on all streaming platforms.  
 
Follow Leah on socials: @leahcharlesking 

Luyando Malawo

Born in Zambia and now living in Kent, Luyando Malawo works part-time in banking. Now 33, she was detained under the Mental Health Act and diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 25. Determined to dispel the myths and shame around mental illness, Luyando has been featured in ‘Cosmopolitan’ and ‘Stylist’ magazines talking about mental health issues. As a commissioner for Bipolar UK, in 2022 Luyando helped launch the Bipolar Commission’s report 'Bipolar Minds Matter' on BBC Radio 4’s programme, ‘All in the Mind’.

Prof Melvin McInnis

Melvin McInnis is the Thomas B and Nancy Upjohn Woodworth Professor of Bipolar Disorder and Depression and the Director of the Heinz C Prechter Bipolar Research Program at the University of Michigan (U-M). He began his career in the genetics of bipolar disorder and presently leads a longitudinal research program in translational research focused on identifying underlying mechanisms behind bipolar disorder as well as characterizing clinical features that are predictive of the patterns of illness. Dr. McInnis trained in Canada, Iceland, London (UK), and Baltimore (Johns Hopkins).  He is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP), the Royal College of Psychiatry (UK), and the Royal Society of Medicine (UK). Dr. McInnis leads the efforts to establish a global bipolar cohort (GBC), a collaborative of researchers and stakeholders focused longitudinal clinical research in bipolar disorder.   
 

Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl)

Mya-Rose Craig is a 21-year-old, British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist, author, speaker and broadcaster. Her family’s number one passion is birdwatching and at the age of 11 Mya started her popular blog ‘Birdgirl’. At 17 she became the youngest person to have seen half of the birds in the world and published her first book, ‘We Have a Dream’ which was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. Mya’s 2022 memoir ‘Birdgirl’ recounts her unique adolescence and the family’s struggle to support her mum Helena who was living with undiagnosed bipolar for many years before getting a diagnosis. Mya is currently studying Human, Social and Political Sciences at Cambridge University.

Nicky Chinn

A songwriter and record producer, Nicky co-wrote several international number one singles with Mike Chapman in the 70s and 80s. The many hits include 'Living Next Door to Alice', 'Tiger Feet', 'Lonely This Christmas' and the worldwide hit 'Mickey'. Chinn and Chapman were the recipients of three Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting, including the Jimmy Kennedy award for outstanding career achievement in 1997.

Nicky says, "Back in 1961 when I was diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 16, mental illness was not something that was accepted too readily. It was ‘pull yourself together’ territory. My parents were ashamed which made me ashamed as well. Therapy has helped me in more ways than I can describe. I believe it’s one of the reasons I’ve survived. Now I know the condition will always be there in the background, but that it doesn't have to be a prison sentence for life. I don't have to give it the power to rule me forever. Therapy has taught me how to manage bipolar and manage myself, and many other things as well." 

You can listen to Nicky's brilliant episode of the Shed Talks podcast here

Polly Wiseman

Polly Wiseman is a writer/performer and artistic director of Fireraisers Theatre Company. They were diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 19, over two decades ago.

As well as raising money for Bipolar UK, Polly is using art and activism to raise awareness of bipolar, challenge stigma around psychosis and campaign for better mental health care. They has created a talk-come-show to address these issues in an entertaining way. ‘How To Go Crazy For Good’ can be taken to theatres, universities and groups. 

For enquiries, you can find Polly on Instagram: @polly_wiseman 

Rosie Phillips

Rosie Phillips is Bipolar UK's Deputy CEO. She joined the charity in 2017 to manage the Peer Support Line and oversee the integration of our Peer Support eCommunity and Support Groups.

 Rosie lives with bipolar and understands the challenges the condition can bring - from social anxiety to complex mood changes, such as mania and hypomania, low mood and mixed episodes. An advocate for lived experience and the importance of peer support as part of self-management to live well, she says she has flourished since joining the charity thanks to her improved understanding of the condition.

Professor Sally Marlow

Dr Sameer Jauhar

Dr Sameer Jauhar is a consultant psychiatrist and clinical academic at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Clinical Lecturer in Mood Disorders and Psychosis at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London known nationally and internationally for his research into mood disorders and psychosis.

Sameer mainly looks after the care of young people with first episode psychosis (including bipolar disorder). His current research interests are the neurobiology and treatments for bipolar. 

Sara Schley

Sara Schley is the author of the acclaimed memoir, BrainStorm: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum. She is a business consultant, speaker, and author who has led organisational transformations at renowned companies around the world.

Sara is a mother, grandmother, community leader, and says she has been married to a 'great guy' for 26 years. She mostly kept what she calls her 'bipolar type 2 brain that's on the bipolar spectrum' a secret for four decades. But now she is choosing to share her story to help end stigma and, ultimately, to save lives.

Simon Kitchen

Simon Kitchen has been CEO of Bipolar UK since April 2018. His previous roles include running the Dementia Action Alliance, where he signed up over 1,000 organisations to support people with dementia. He also led a major co-production initiative at Leonard Cheshire Disability that empowered over 1,000 people with long term conditions in residential care to have more choice and control over their lives.

Simon’s first experience of bipolar was in his late teens when he supported a friend with the condition. His brother-in-law Kevin, also lived with the condition. 

Dr Talen Wright 

Dr Talen Wright is Bipolar UK's postdoctoral research manager. She, alongside the director of research Dr Tania Gergel, is responsible for all research activities taking place within the charity. Talen's background is in psychology, however she moved to psychiatric epidemiology for her PhD. 

Talen's research interests centre on marginalised and minoritised people's mental health. Her PhD work investigated microaggressions and their associations with depression, anxiety, and suicidality within the transgender community. Her work now within bipolar is to ensure lived experience is centred in all research work and to address the community's most pressing concerns. 

Dr Tania Gergel

Dr Tania Gergel is Bipolar UK's first Director of Research at Bipolar UK and is also an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the Division of Psychiatry at University College London, Cardiff University Medical School and King's College London, specialising in mental health, ethics, and law. Tania is internationally recognised for her work on advance directives, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) and co-production.  

The primary focus of Tania's research has been on the clinical, legal and ethical issues surrounding the creation and use of advance directives in severe and episodic mental health conditions, in particular bipolar. She has worked in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care on the upcoming introduction of statutory provision for ‘advance choice documents’ within the (England and Wales) Mental Health Act and co-founded the Advance Choice Documents website, launched in January 2024. 

Tania's work focuses on putting the lived experience of mental illness at the centre of mental health research and policy. 

Zoe Bell 

As Director at East Kent Rape Crisis Centre, Zoe frequently speaks at international, national and regional conferences. She has worked for the charity for just over ten years, initially as a volunteer and then taking on a paid role. She is an accredited ISVA (independent sexual violence advisor), and managed the service before taking up her current role.  

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